March 2024
Jenelyn
Pitino
,
BSN, RN, CMSRN
Float Pool
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Manhattan
,
NY
United States
Our mom expressed that her kindness and compassion stood out. She communicated to our mom without words but her actions. Her actions showed the true nature of the human being she is.
Jenelyn was the nurse caring for my elderly mom in August 2023. My mom was brought to the hospital because we were concerned that her memory was going. She was very aggressive at home, and it scared the family. When my mom was admitted to the unit, she was placed on 7 Central. My mom does not speak English and her dialect is not well known to the United States language services. Unfortunately, my brother and I were unable to visit very often because we both work full time. I know that the nursing team was challenged with communicating with her. We were devastated when we heard she had dementia and that she was alone without us in the hospital. Our mom would call us every day saying she wanted to go home and was scared. We knew she was scared and frustrated because she struggled to communicate her needs with the treatment team. And then she had Jenelyn as a nurse. Our mom would call us every day to tell us she met this nice lady with big glasses who made her feel safe. One day, when we were visiting our mom, she pointed her out and said, "That was the nice lady who made me feel safe." Our mom explained that Jenelyn would do morning stretches with her, turn on TV shows that she might find enjoyable, and bring her hot water every morning she worked. Our mom expressed that her kindness and compassion stood out. She communicated to our mom without words but her actions. Her actions showed the true nature of the human being she is. She is a great nurse and an amazing human being. Thank you, Jenelyn, from the bottom of our hearts, for the care and dedication you provide to the patients you care for. You gave my brother and I peace of mind and we slept better at night knowing that you were there to show empathy and concern for our mom's wellbeing.